Jamaica College staged a valiant fight back to wrestle what seemed a sure title from Wolmer’s Boys School, defeating them 3-2, after extra time, in the final of the ISSA/LIME Manning Cup 2013 competition at the National Stadium on Saturday evening. The game had ended 2-2 in regulation time.
Jamaica College staged a valiant fight back to wrestle what seemed a sure title from Wolmer’s Boys School, defeating them 3-2, after extra time, in the final of the ISSA/LIME Manning Cup 2013 competition at the National Stadium on Saturday evening. The game had ended 2-2 in regulation time.
The game had a cagey opening but it was JC took the lead fortuitously, in the 26th minute, when Wolmer’s defender Roneka Clarke saw his attempted clearance end into the back of his own net from a ball flighted into the area by JC captain Junior Flemmings.
The Wolmer’s fight back was immediate. Their efforts reaped two quick corner kicks, as they put JC defence under pressure. The boys from Heroes Circle were then awarded a free kick on the edge of the area, and their talisman Jaheel Hyde expertly curled his effort towards goal. The ball hit the underside of the crossbar and crashed into the back of the net to draw the teams level just four minutes later bringing the roaring Wolmer’s fans to their feet.
The first half of a pulsating contest ended 1-1 with no one the wiser as to who would claim the title.
Wolmer’s seized the initiative when Hyde put them 2-1 ahead midway the second half. The forward ran onto a right sided cross, getting in between two defenders who failed to pick up his run and headed beautifully into the back of the net. The goal came somewhat against the run of play, but trying telling that to the Maroon and Gold faithful.
With the clock winding down and the Wolmer’s fans worldwide dreaming of their first title in 19 years Rafiek Bryan’s tame header for JC slipped through the fingers of a diving Dane Lee and into the goal to make it 2-2 with just four minutes left in regulation time.
The full time score read 2-2 which meant the fans would have to sit through at least 30 more agonizing minutes of football.
JC appeared the fitter bunch and lifted their game in the first stanza of extra time. The boys from Hope Road struck the killer blow nine minutes in, when the ball fell kindly to substitute Ronald Brown who sided footed into the net from inside the box.
Cue massive celebrations that lasted till the final whistle as JC claimed their 22nd lien on the trophy in a truly dramatic and epic final. It was bitter pill to swallow for the Ludlow Bernard coached boys who had made it one step closer than last year and who honestly felt they had a date with destiny.
It will be an admittedly tough task to have Wolmer’s mentally ready for the Walker Cup finals against Excelsior on Tuesday.
For now, Miguel Coley and his team and fans will bask in the glory of not only being Manning Cup champions but also being the winningest team in the competition’s history, one more than last year’s winners, St. Georges College.
Writer: Andre Yg Stephens
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